Indoor living

Well I made a split decision and after shampooing them they haven't been back outside since,  They have lived in the kitchen in a cage that's a bit too small while we wait for a good size one to be delivered (should be tomorrow).

My instincts have been saying to do this for ages and I could take it no more.  Turns out it's the best move I have made.  They have made strides forward since being in and its rained non-stop since then so they would have been really miserable just sitting in their bedroom in the hutch.

Firstly they have been able to hear the other guineas at veggies time.  The second night the wheek wheek wheek began in the other room and Bessie came out of the igloo she's been hiding in.  She started foraging round her food bowls and hay while I was in the kitchen.

Next she went to the space in the cage and POPCORNED.  She was happy!  Now this is something all of the indoor guineas do all the time.  They dart and run about popcorning every day.  Their cage is large and they can tear up and down the enclosed ramps having fun and getting exercise.  But Bessie and Gypsy have always looked so sad.  To say I was walking on air that Bessie had popcorned is an understatement.  Next I put the veggies in the cage and out they came and just started eating - like that was normal.  Eating in front of me.

Then yesterday I introduced them to some of my guineas and it went very well for ages.  They all got down to the serious business of eating grass.  It was only when top girl of the indoor guineas went in that the teeth chattering started.  I learned that Gypsy is top of the 2 fosters and Nibbles on the indoor piggies.  When the strutting started I seperated them while I think about things.  There really isn't room for them in the big cage, one extra would fit in at most but 2 would be cramped and that's not what I want.  Everyone deserves room.

Veggies time last night and both came out to forage and BOTH popcorned and tried to run about.  I felt sorry for them actually as they don't have the room to dart about like they want to.  The cage company said tomorrow it will be here so not long.  They both ate veggies outdoors and then they went back in.  I got some coriander and Gypsy started taking it out of my hand, again amazing.  And final achievement last night Bessie came out of the igloo and had a lay down in the open.  What a difference a few days make when they are indoors eh?  I knew it.  I think they are out more at night because it's quieter with the kids in bed.  I mean all of them forage at night and go round the cage from food to food but the indoor guineas do it in the morning too and so far that's been absent from their behaviour.

I also haven't held them since they moved inside, going to start today but I wanted to give them real settling in time.  So there is still that to do yet, taming on laps, normal behaviour and taking food on laps.

But we have come a long way already right?